National comparison · DOE College Scorecard

Best-value colleges

A transparent earnings-to-cost comparison for large colleges, using reported six-year earnings, average net price, and median federal debt. It is not a lifetime ROI guarantee.

100
Colleges compared
1,000+
minimum enrollment
6 years
earnings timing

College of the Sequoias leads this earnings-to-cost comparison among large U.S. colleges

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, College of the Sequoias shows a 6.3× signal: median six-year earnings of $31,439 against average net price $480 plus median federal debt $4,500. The list covers 100 institutions with at least 1,000 enrolled students and all three reported measures present. It is a reproducible ratio, not a lifetime ROI prediction.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Leading value signal
6.3×
Median earnings, 6 years
$31,439
Average net price
$480
Colleges compared
100

The value signal

College of the Sequoias leads this transparent comparison at 6.3 times reported six-year earnings relative to its average net price plus median federal debt.

$31,439
median earnings, six years
$480
average net price
$4,500
median federal debt
6.3×
earnings-to-cost signal

The ratio compares reported figures, not an individual's future earnings, aid package, or total lifetime return.

100 colleges with the strongest reported earnings-to-cost signal

Formula: median earnings six years after entry ÷ (average net price + median federal debt). All three reported measures must be present, and institutions need at least 1,000 enrolled students.

1
College of the SequoiasCA · 14,494 students
6-year earnings
$31,439
Avg net price
$480
Median debt
$4,500
Value signal
6.3×
2
Princeton UniversityNJ · 9,137 students
6-year earnings
$87,815
Avg net price
$6,128
Median debt
$10,320
Value signal
5.3×
3
Santiago Canyon CollegeCA · 11,897 students
6-year earnings
$36,758
Avg net price
$2,129
Median debt
$5,125
Value signal
5.1×
4
College of the MainlandTX · 5,127 students
6-year earnings
$36,164
Avg net price
$1,342
Median debt
$5,960
Value signal
5.0×
5
Macomb Community CollegeMI · 16,300 students
6-year earnings
$33,875
Avg net price
$1,618
Median debt
$6,000
Value signal
4.4×
7
Irvine Valley CollegeCA · 13,018 students
6-year earnings
$35,124
Avg net price
$2,090
Median debt
$6,500
Value signal
4.1×
10
Lake Land CollegeIL · 3,960 students
6-year earnings
$33,693
Avg net price
$2,254
Median debt
$6,188
Value signal
4.0×
11
Stanford UniversityCA · 18,625 students
6-year earnings
$102,887
Avg net price
$13,807
Median debt
$12,000
Value signal
4.0×
14
Oakton CollegeIL · 8,329 students
6-year earnings
$38,528
Avg net price
$5,183
Median debt
$5,250
Value signal
3.7×
15
Santa Ana CollegeCA · 27,248 students
6-year earnings
$36,845
Avg net price
$3,133
Median debt
$6,871
Value signal
3.7×
16
Berea CollegeKY · 1,527 students
6-year earnings
$35,676
Avg net price
$6,106
Median debt
$3,591
Value signal
3.7×
17
Del Mar CollegeTX · 10,256 students
6-year earnings
$32,526
Avg net price
$3,399
Median debt
$5,500
Value signal
3.7×
18
Wayne Community CollegeNC · 3,626 students
6-year earnings
$31,900
Avg net price
$2,245
Median debt
$6,500
Value signal
3.6×
19
Carl Sandburg CollegeIL · 1,603 students
6-year earnings
$31,149
Avg net price
$3,662
Median debt
$4,909
Value signal
3.6×
20
CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · 13,324 students
6-year earnings
$51,067
Avg net price
$3,148
Median debt
$10,950
Value signal
3.6×
21
CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · 22,538 students
6-year earnings
$50,414
Avg net price
$2,984
Median debt
$11,000
Value signal
3.6×
22
Brazosport CollegeTX · 3,812 students
6-year earnings
$37,347
Avg net price
$4,732
Median debt
$5,641
Value signal
3.6×
25
De Anza CollegeCA · 17,425 students
6-year earnings
$43,179
Avg net price
$6,642
Median debt
$5,625
Value signal
3.5×
27
Santa Monica CollegeCA · 23,453 students
6-year earnings
$31,977
Avg net price
$2,779
Median debt
$6,450
Value signal
3.5×
29
San Diego Mesa CollegeCA · 19,212 students
6-year earnings
$35,773
Avg net price
$5,814
Median debt
$4,725
Value signal
3.4×
30
CUNY Queens CollegeNY · 15,965 students
6-year earnings
$48,548
Avg net price
$4,195
Median debt
$10,298
Value signal
3.3×
32
Pima Community CollegeAZ · 16,283 students
6-year earnings
$34,622
Avg net price
$3,405
Median debt
$7,000
Value signal
3.3×
35
Rice UniversityTX · 8,961 students
6-year earnings
$79,751
Avg net price
$13,370
Median debt
$11,000
Value signal
3.3×
36
Fullerton CollegeCA · 19,521 students
6-year earnings
$34,531
Avg net price
$6,134
Median debt
$4,500
Value signal
3.2×
37
Western Texas CollegeTX · 1,385 students
6-year earnings
$35,926
Avg net price
$3,562
Median debt
$7,515
Value signal
3.2×
38
Kaskaskia CollegeIL · 3,669 students
6-year earnings
$33,095
Avg net price
$6,477
Median debt
$3,750
Value signal
3.2×
39
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY · 14,390 students
6-year earnings
$45,035
Avg net price
$3,103
Median debt
$11,000
Value signal
3.2×
40
Joliet Junior CollegeIL · 14,414 students
6-year earnings
$36,334
Avg net price
$1,672
Median debt
$9,711
Value signal
3.2×
41
Laredo CollegeTX · 11,029 students
6-year earnings
$27,435
Avg net price
$5,798
Median debt
$2,959
Value signal
3.1×
42
Reedley CollegeCA · 8,796 students
6-year earnings
$30,023
Avg net price
$6,814
Median debt
$2,819
Value signal
3.1×
43
Pasadena City CollegeCA · 24,597 students
6-year earnings
$32,759
Avg net price
$3,864
Median debt
$6,651
Value signal
3.1×
44
Middlesex CollegeNJ · 12,044 students
6-year earnings
$37,254
Avg net price
$2,288
Median debt
$9,750
Value signal
3.1×
46
Harvard UniversityMA · 30,259 students
6-year earnings
$99,572
Avg net price
$19,066
Median debt
$14,000
Value signal
3.0×
47
Cerritos CollegeCA · 21,859 students
6-year earnings
$32,581
Avg net price
$2,424
Median debt
$8,447
Value signal
3.0×
48
CUNY York CollegeNY · 6,174 students
6-year earnings
$46,148
Avg net price
$4,456
Median debt
$11,000
Value signal
3.0×
50
Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · 30,210 students
6-year earnings
$86,306
Avg net price
$18,809
Median debt
$10,250
Value signal
3.0×
51
Alvin Community CollegeTX · 5,872 students
6-year earnings
$38,693
Avg net price
$8,525
Median debt
$4,519
Value signal
3.0×
52
CUNY City CollegeNY · 15,544 students
6-year earnings
$46,435
Avg net price
$3,776
Median debt
$11,990
Value signal
2.9×
58
Clovis Community CollegeNM · 2,342 students
6-year earnings
$30,567
Avg net price
$3,230
Median debt
$7,250
Value signal
2.9×
59
Elgin Community CollegeIL · 10,251 students
6-year earnings
$39,007
Avg net price
$6,026
Median debt
$7,390
Value signal
2.9×
61
Citrus CollegeCA · 10,429 students
6-year earnings
$34,753
Avg net price
$4,135
Median debt
$7,851
Value signal
2.9×
63
College of San MateoCA · 9,901 students
6-year earnings
$43,803
Avg net price
$536
Median debt
$14,695
Value signal
2.9×
65
Golden West CollegeCA · 10,721 students
6-year earnings
$34,462
Avg net price
$4,824
Median debt
$7,179
Value signal
2.9×
66
Alpena Community CollegeMI · 1,581 students
6-year earnings
$35,275
Avg net price
$3,320
Median debt
$9,024
Value signal
2.9×
69
Gulf Coast State CollegeFL · 5,426 students
6-year earnings
$33,651
Avg net price
$4,709
Median debt
$7,147
Value signal
2.8×
71
Pensacola State CollegeFL · 9,491 students
6-year earnings
$32,495
Avg net price
$3,957
Median debt
$7,500
Value signal
2.8×
74
College of the CanyonsCA · 18,075 students
6-year earnings
$37,697
Avg net price
$3,702
Median debt
$9,612
Value signal
2.8×
76
Mt San Antonio CollegeCA · 29,971 students
6-year earnings
$34,928
Avg net price
$6,490
Median debt
$5,880
Value signal
2.8×
79
Renton Technical CollegeWA · 2,824 students
6-year earnings
$45,679
Avg net price
$8,296
Median debt
$7,920
Value signal
2.8×
80
Texas Southmost CollegeTX · 8,828 students
6-year earnings
$33,992
Avg net price
$3,085
Median debt
$9,000
Value signal
2.8×
82
Dallas CollegeTX · 69,749 students
6-year earnings
$35,493
Avg net price
$3,214
Median debt
$9,500
Value signal
2.8×
84
Eastern Wyoming CollegeWY · 1,457 students
6-year earnings
$32,658
Avg net price
$4,764
Median debt
$7,000
Value signal
2.8×
86
Pratt Community CollegeKS · 1,322 students
6-year earnings
$44,798
Avg net price
$9,731
Median debt
$6,500
Value signal
2.8×
88
Snow CollegeUT · 5,577 students
6-year earnings
$34,587
Avg net price
$5,552
Median debt
$7,000
Value signal
2.8×
91
McHenry County CollegeIL · 9,399 students
6-year earnings
$36,496
Avg net price
$7,042
Median debt
$6,260
Value signal
2.7×
94
University of ChicagoIL · 18,566 students
6-year earnings
$80,870
Avg net price
$14,860
Median debt
$15,000
Value signal
2.7×
97
Foothill CollegeCA · 12,949 students
6-year earnings
$48,920
Avg net price
$7,653
Median debt
$10,500
Value signal
2.7×
99
Florida Gateway CollegeFL · 2,921 students
6-year earnings
$33,237
Avg net price
$5,364
Median debt
$6,992
Value signal
2.7×
#College6-year earningsAvg net priceMedian debtValue signal
1College of the SequoiasCA · 14,494 students$31,439$480$4,5006.3×100% of the leader · rank #1
2Princeton UniversityNJ · 9,137 students$87,815$6,128$10,3205.3×85% of the leader · rank #2
3Santiago Canyon CollegeCA · 11,897 students$36,758$2,129$5,1255.1×80% of the leader · rank #3
4College of the MainlandTX · 5,127 students$36,164$1,342$5,9605.0×78% of the leader · rank #4
5Macomb Community CollegeMI · 16,300 students$33,875$1,618$6,0004.4×70% of the leader · rank #5
6CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNY · 20,081 students$61,542$3,033$11,5124.2×67% of the leader · rank #6
7Irvine Valley CollegeCA · 13,018 students$35,124$2,090$6,5004.1×65% of the leader · rank #7
8Middlesex Community CollegeMA · 9,374 students$40,318$2,624$7,2914.1×64% of the leader · rank #8
9San Diego Miramar CollegeCA · 14,257 students$40,327$3,337$6,7504.0×63% of the leader · rank #9
10Lake Land CollegeIL · 3,960 students$33,693$2,254$6,1884.0×63% of the leader · rank #10
11Stanford UniversityCA · 18,625 students$102,887$13,807$12,0004.0×63% of the leader · rank #11
12Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMA · 11,886 students$131,633$20,111$14,7683.8×60% of the leader · rank #12
13Spartanburg Community CollegeSC · 6,653 students$33,460$2,405$6,5003.8×60% of the leader · rank #13
14Oakton CollegeIL · 8,329 students$38,528$5,183$5,2503.7×58% of the leader · rank #14
15Santa Ana CollegeCA · 27,248 students$36,845$3,133$6,8713.7×58% of the leader · rank #15
16Berea CollegeKY · 1,527 students$35,676$6,106$3,5913.7×58% of the leader · rank #16
17Del Mar CollegeTX · 10,256 students$32,526$3,399$5,5003.7×58% of the leader · rank #17
18Wayne Community CollegeNC · 3,626 students$31,900$2,245$6,5003.6×58% of the leader · rank #18
19Carl Sandburg CollegeIL · 1,603 students$31,149$3,662$4,9093.6×58% of the leader · rank #19
20CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · 13,324 students$51,067$3,148$10,9503.6×57% of the leader · rank #20
21CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · 22,538 students$50,414$2,984$11,0003.6×57% of the leader · rank #21
22Brazosport CollegeTX · 3,812 students$37,347$4,732$5,6413.6×57% of the leader · rank #22
23Northeast Alabama Community CollegeAL · 3,208 students$31,750$2,756$6,1003.6×57% of the leader · rank #23
24CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNY · 13,763 students$50,293$3,203$11,0003.5×56% of the leader · rank #24
25De Anza CollegeCA · 17,425 students$43,179$6,642$5,6253.5×56% of the leader · rank #25
26Lewis and Clark Community CollegeIL · 4,606 students$35,365$3,349$6,7513.5×55% of the leader · rank #26
27Santa Monica CollegeCA · 23,453 students$31,977$2,779$6,4503.5×55% of the leader · rank #27
28San Joaquin Delta CollegeCA · 20,969 students$33,920$2,407$7,5003.4×54% of the leader · rank #28
29San Diego Mesa CollegeCA · 19,212 students$35,773$5,814$4,7253.4×54% of the leader · rank #29
30CUNY Queens CollegeNY · 15,965 students$48,548$4,195$10,2983.3×53% of the leader · rank #30
31Illinois Valley Community CollegeIL · 2,720 students$34,932$2,232$8,2333.3×53% of the leader · rank #31
32Pima Community CollegeAZ · 16,283 students$34,622$3,405$7,0003.3×53% of the leader · rank #32
33Savannah Technical CollegeGA · 3,942 students$31,124$6,114$3,2583.3×53% of the leader · rank #33
34West Shore Community CollegeMI · 1,120 students$34,841$1,527$9,0893.3×52% of the leader · rank #34
35Rice UniversityTX · 8,961 students$79,751$13,370$11,0003.3×52% of the leader · rank #35
36Fullerton CollegeCA · 19,521 students$34,531$6,134$4,5003.2×51% of the leader · rank #36
37Western Texas CollegeTX · 1,385 students$35,926$3,562$7,5153.2×51% of the leader · rank #37
38Kaskaskia CollegeIL · 3,669 students$33,095$6,477$3,7503.2×51% of the leader · rank #38
39CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY · 14,390 students$45,035$3,103$11,0003.2×51% of the leader · rank #39
40Joliet Junior CollegeIL · 14,414 students$36,334$1,672$9,7113.2×51% of the leader · rank #40
41Laredo CollegeTX · 11,029 students$27,435$5,798$2,9593.1×50% of the leader · rank #41
42Reedley CollegeCA · 8,796 students$30,023$6,814$2,8193.1×49% of the leader · rank #42
43Pasadena City CollegeCA · 24,597 students$32,759$3,864$6,6513.1×49% of the leader · rank #43
44Middlesex CollegeNJ · 12,044 students$37,254$2,288$9,7503.1×49% of the leader · rank #44
45St Charles Community CollegeMO · 6,143 students$37,087$5,837$6,1873.1×49% of the leader · rank #45
46Harvard UniversityMA · 30,259 students$99,572$19,066$14,0003.0×48% of the leader · rank #46
47Cerritos CollegeCA · 21,859 students$32,581$2,424$8,4473.0×47% of the leader · rank #47
48CUNY York CollegeNY · 6,174 students$46,148$4,456$11,0003.0×47% of the leader · rank #48
49Florida Polytechnic UniversityFL · 1,769 students$77,545$11,853$14,2503.0×47% of the leader · rank #49
50Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · 30,210 students$86,306$18,809$10,2503.0×47% of the leader · rank #50
51Alvin Community CollegeTX · 5,872 students$38,693$8,525$4,5193.0×47% of the leader · rank #51
52CUNY City CollegeNY · 15,544 students$46,435$3,776$11,9902.9×47% of the leader · rank #52
53El Paso Community CollegeTX · 25,567 students$28,765$3,206$6,5662.9×47% of the leader · rank #53
54Wharton County Junior CollegeTX · 5,504 students$36,405$4,666$7,7032.9×47% of the leader · rank #54
55Western Governors UniversityUT · 210,208 students$69,572$12,548$11,1162.9×47% of the leader · rank #55
56South Florida State CollegeFL · 2,880 students$32,974$3,877$7,3682.9×46% of the leader · rank #56
57Springfield Technical Community CollegeMA · 5,447 students$35,824$5,662$6,5702.9×46% of the leader · rank #57
58Clovis Community CollegeNM · 2,342 students$30,567$3,230$7,2502.9×46% of the leader · rank #58
59Elgin Community CollegeIL · 10,251 students$39,007$6,026$7,3902.9×46% of the leader · rank #59
60Salina Area Technical CollegeKS · 1,016 students$39,065$6,468$7,0002.9×46% of the leader · rank #60
61Citrus CollegeCA · 10,429 students$34,753$4,135$7,8512.9×46% of the leader · rank #61
62Central New Mexico Community CollegeNM · 19,342 students$32,460$4,621$6,6122.9×46% of the leader · rank #62
63College of San MateoCA · 9,901 students$43,803$536$14,6952.9×46% of the leader · rank #63
64Danville Area Community CollegeIL · 2,297 students$34,443$4,777$7,2182.9×45% of the leader · rank #64
65Golden West CollegeCA · 10,721 students$34,462$4,824$7,1792.9×45% of the leader · rank #65
66Alpena Community CollegeMI · 1,581 students$35,275$3,320$9,0242.9×45% of the leader · rank #66
67Indian River State CollegeFL · 15,429 students$33,822$3,815$8,0232.9×45% of the leader · rank #67
68Central Piedmont Community CollegeNC · 20,375 students$32,138$3,345$7,9252.9×45% of the leader · rank #68
69Gulf Coast State CollegeFL · 5,426 students$33,651$4,709$7,1472.8×45% of the leader · rank #69
70Suffolk County Community CollegeNY · 19,973 students$38,316$5,258$8,2502.8×45% of the leader · rank #70
71Pensacola State CollegeFL · 9,491 students$32,495$3,957$7,5002.8×45% of the leader · rank #71
72Moraine Valley Community CollegeIL · 11,296 students$34,943$2,829$9,5002.8×45% of the leader · rank #72
73Dyersburg State Community CollegeTN · 3,296 students$32,595$4,612$6,9002.8×45% of the leader · rank #73
74College of the CanyonsCA · 18,075 students$37,697$3,702$9,6122.8×45% of the leader · rank #74
75University of California-BerkeleyCA · 45,882 students$74,919$13,481$13,0002.8×45% of the leader · rank #75
76Mt San Antonio CollegeCA · 29,971 students$34,928$6,490$5,8802.8×45% of the leader · rank #76
77Seward County Community CollegeKS · 2,092 students$37,298$6,717$6,5002.8×45% of the leader · rank #77
78Lamar State College-OrangeTX · 3,629 students$35,553$1,655$10,9592.8×45% of the leader · rank #78
79Renton Technical CollegeWA · 2,824 students$45,679$8,296$7,9202.8×45% of the leader · rank #79
80Texas Southmost CollegeTX · 8,828 students$33,992$3,085$9,0002.8×45% of the leader · rank #80
81Carroll Community CollegeMD · 3,337 students$40,447$2,725$11,7502.8×44% of the leader · rank #81
82Dallas CollegeTX · 69,749 students$35,493$3,214$9,5002.8×44% of the leader · rank #82
83North Georgia Technical CollegeGA · 2,599 students$32,856$4,005$7,8232.8×44% of the leader · rank #83
84Eastern Wyoming CollegeWY · 1,457 students$32,658$4,764$7,0002.8×44% of the leader · rank #84
85Dodge City Community CollegeKS · 1,655 students$35,682$4,068$8,8002.8×44% of the leader · rank #85
86Pratt Community CollegeKS · 1,322 students$44,798$9,731$6,5002.8×44% of the leader · rank #86
87Paul D Camp Community CollegeVA · 1,219 students$30,338$4,126$6,8802.8×44% of the leader · rank #87
88Snow CollegeUT · 5,577 students$34,587$5,552$7,0002.8×44% of the leader · rank #88
89York County Community CollegeME · 1,875 students$40,535$5,875$8,8612.8×44% of the leader · rank #89
90Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeMA · 4,578 students$37,504$7,169$6,5002.7×43% of the leader · rank #90
91McHenry County CollegeIL · 9,399 students$36,496$7,042$6,2602.7×43% of the leader · rank #91
92Schoolcraft Community College DistrictMI · 8,587 students$34,749$2,260$10,5002.7×43% of the leader · rank #92
93Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeGA · 7,282 students$33,044$5,720$6,4212.7×43% of the leader · rank #93
94University of ChicagoIL · 18,566 students$80,870$14,860$15,0002.7×43% of the leader · rank #94
95Richland Community CollegeIL · 2,388 students$32,459$3,741$8,2562.7×43% of the leader · rank #95
96North Central State CollegeOH · 2,553 students$34,892$4,687$8,2522.7×43% of the leader · rank #96
97Foothill CollegeCA · 12,949 students$48,920$7,653$10,5002.7×43% of the leader · rank #97
98California State University-Los AngelesCA · 23,163 students$45,702$3,967$13,0002.7×43% of the leader · rank #98
99Florida Gateway CollegeFL · 2,921 students$33,237$5,364$6,9922.7×43% of the leader · rank #99
100East Central Community CollegeMS · 2,785 students$28,873$5,240$5,5002.7×43% of the leader · rank #100

This ranking does not measure a college's educational quality, admission likelihood, tuition for a specific student, living costs, loan repayment, or lifetime return. It is a reproducible comparison of the three reported figures shown above.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23, outcomes and federal-aid recipient earnings

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Each ranking row is queried from the College Scorecard cost and outcomes tables at request time. The formula is shown above so readers can evaluate its limits. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

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